The 2018 Act nullified the March 20 judgment which allowed anticipatory bail to those booked for committing atrocities against the SCs and the STs. The original 1989 Act bars anticipatory bail. The government reacted by filing a review petition and subsequently amended the 1989 Act back to its original form. The Supreme Court however had refused to stay the implementation of the amendments. “The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 is the least which the country owes to this section... who have been denied civil rights since generations,” the Centre argued.

Source: The Hindu May 01, 2019 17:03 UTC